“Never again: Not to any woman or girl again”: Feminist advocacy and the girl child in Betty Makoni’s autobiography

Abstract

abstract Betty Makoni's autobiography, Never again: Not to any woman or girl again, is a text that works to inform an understanding of the meaning of feminist advocacy against gender violence in Zimbabwe. It documents Makoni’s life of activism against the exploitation, oppression and violation of the girl child in Zimbabwe. We argue that activism affords numerous positions for the production of agency. This is demonstrated in the manner in which Makoni uses her life’s story, making use of the political tools of writing to advocate for women’s rights, showing how she changed from being a victim to being a survivor. Autobiography as a site for the self, inscribes how she moves from the private sphere to engage the public sphere to lead a movement of girls and later establish an empowerment model. Zimbabwean national politics compel Makoni to endure the effects of social silencing at the same time revealing the oppressive character of the nation. Self-reflexivity and conscience catalyse her activism in the public domain. When Makoni's continued advocacy is constrained one of her strategies is to move between online and offline activism - social media, and radio and print – to negotiate the political spaces of lawlessness at a time when the violence against women and the girl child is rife. In her feminist advocacy model we see reconceptualised and reconstructed female subjectivities and identity positions, different from those imposed by patriarchy. Makoni’s advocacy for girl child empowerment gains traction in Zimbabwe, mentoring many thousands of girls, engaging communities and through lobbying for policy change it expands across several countries and continents.